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Visitor Information

Campus and Community
About Campus Resources Visitor Information

We Encourage You to Get to Know the USC Upstate Campus, the Spartanburg Community and the Upstate Area!

Set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, USC Upstate is located conveniently along the thriving economic I-85 corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte and just a few hours drive from the beaches and mountains. 

With about 5,000 students at USC Upstate, the campus is a constant whirlwind of activity. There is always something to do. Should you decide to venture off campus, the Spartanburg community is filled with Southern hospitality and historical and cultural heritage. There are also 14,000 college students in town as seven colleges are located in this area.

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  • John C. Stockwell Administration Building
    800 University Way, Spartanburg, SC, 29303
    The John C. Stockwell Administration Building houses the offices of the chancellor, academic affairs, alumni affairs, records, and information technology services. 

    Olin B. Sansbury, Jr. Campus Life Center
    180 Gramling Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303 
    This facility is the hub of student life activity. Opened in 1995, it houses Dining Services, Student Affairs, Counseling Services, Center for International Studies, student organization offices, student publication offices, several meeting rooms, a computer lab and an ATM. A large ballroom, overlooking the beautiful Susan Jacobs Arboretum, is often used for receptions and other events.

    G.B. Hodge Center
    365 Hodge Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303 
    Named for one of the University’s founders, Dr. G.B. Hodge, the Center was completed in 1973, renovated in 2000 and again in 2010. The bottom floor is home to the Athletics Department, which includes the basketball gymnasium, a practice gym and weight room. The top floor houses the Division of Mathematics and Computer Science. This area is full of the latest technology for learning including the Stäubli Robotics Lab, three smart classrooms and two computer labs. 

    The George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics
    160 E. Saint John Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303 
    “The George” as it is affectionately known is located in the heart of downtown Spartanburg at 160 E. St. John Street and it is where nearly 800 business majors attend classes. The 60,000-square-foot facility features a stock trading lab, smart classrooms, a large tiered classroom, meeting spaces, conference rooms, beautiful exterior green space and three large art galleries. A parking garage is located conveniently behind the building, and a free shuttle offers service to and from the main campus.

    Health Education Complex
    300 North Campus Boulevard, Spartanburg, SC 29303 
    Opened in summer 2008 and situated on top of a hill with panoramic views of the beautiful Susan Jacobs Arboretum, the Complex houses the Mary Black College of Nursing, the College of Education, the Enrollment Management Offices, Bookstore, and a three-story Wellness/Fitness Center. 

    Health Services
    995 University Way, Spartanburg, SC 29303
    Located on University Way near Valley Falls Road, Health Services offers health care and education to all enrolled students on an outpatient basis. A nurse practitioner is available on a full-time basis by appointment. 

    Horace C. Smith Science Building
    160 Gramling Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303
    This building was opened in 1984 primarily for the sciences. The first floor features the Watershed Ecology Lab, Scanning Electron Microcopy laboratory, and food court. The second floor houses the geology laboratory and the physics laboratory. The biology department occupies the third floor, including modern facilities and equipment, seven labs for teaching and research, and a large herbarium housing 16,000+ labeled and mounted specimens of plants native to the Upstate. Chemistry facilities, including teaching and research laboratories occupy the fourth floor and there is also a computer lab available for student use. 

    Humanities & Performing Arts Center
    170 Gramling Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303 
    Opened in 1990, this building features a 450-seat theater with a hydraulic pit lift, superb acoustics, the latest technology in theatre lighting, and a fully-rigged fly loft. The building also houses classrooms, academic offices, a music recital hall, private practice rooms, art studios, the Curtis R. Harley Art Gallery, the Focus Gallery, and foreign language and journalism labs.

    John M. Rampey Jr. Center for Health and Counseling Services Building
    490 Hodge Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303 
    Opened in 1992, this 6,200-square-foot facility contains the Center for Student Success, including the Academic Support Center, Career Services, and Opportunity Network

    P. Kathryn Hicks Visual Arts Center
    190 Gramling Drive, Spartanburg, SC 293031
    Renovated in 2003, this building is named for Katie Hicks, a professor of art at USC Upstate for more than 30 years. The renovation of this building, nestled in the Susan Jacobs Arboretum, provides ample studio space for drawing, painting, graphic design, print making, digital imaging and three-dimensional design.

    Library
    150 Gramling Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303 
    Constructed 1976, the Library originally opened with holdings totaling about 9,607. Today’s facility, also designed for classrooms and office space, holds more than 220,000 volumes and boasts a fast growing collection of important archives. On the lower level, with a separate entrance, is the Tukey Theater, a 140-seat lecture hall named for the late Richard E. Tukey, one of the community leader instrumental in the establishment of USC Upstate.

    Louis P. Howell Athletic Complex
    305 North Campus Boulevard, Spartanburg, SC 29303
    This complex includes the County University Soccer Stadium, Spartanburg County Youth Soccer Fields, Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Stadium, Cyrill Softball Stadium and a Tennis Complex. The Howell Complex, named one of the Southeast’s top sports venues, attracts a great number of students and the public to athletic events.

    College of Arts and Sciences Building
    385 Hodge Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303
    Opened in 1982, this 26,066-squarefoot facility originally housed the Mary Black School of Nursing, named for the late Mrs. Mary Louisa Snoddy Black, whose contributions played a key role in securing the funds for the building. It now houses the administrative offices for the College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology Department, and the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies.

    Media Center
    375 Hodge Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303
    In addition to the studios of WRET-TV — a station of the South Carolina Educational Television Network — the academic offices of the Departments of Sociology, Criminal Justice, Women and Gender Studies and History, Political Science, Philosophy and American Studies are located in this 44,000 square-foot building built in 1978

    Burroughs Building
    130 Burroughs Lane, Spartanburg, SC 29303 
    The Burroughs Building was built in 1976 and is named for William J. Burroughs, a founding member of the Spartanburg County Commission for Higher Education. It houses the Center for International Studies, the Honors Program and the Chinese Cultural and Education Center. 

    Palmetto House and Magnolia House 
    470 Hodge Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303 
    Magnolia House is the newest residential facility on campus, opening in fall 2009 for 352 freshmen. Next door is the Palmetto House, which provides housing for 348 upper level students. It opened in 2004. The complex, known as The Tree Houses, consists of single and double occupancy rooms, open areas, and recreation rooms. Each hall features a private study area and laundry facilities. This coeducational facility features controlled access, full sprinkler system, Internet access, cable television, computer lab, green space and adjacent parking.

    Palmetto Villas
    400 Hodge Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303 
    The University obtained ownership of this 12-building apartment complex in 1997. Each two-bedroom unit is furnished, air-conditioned, and has a full kitchen. A recreation area with laundry and basketball and volleyball courts is available. The apartments house 348 upperclassmen. 

    Susan Jacobs Arboretum
    Location of the Arboretum 
    A place of serene natural beauty ideal for various activities, the 12-acre arboretum is named for Susan Jacobs, a graduate of The Mary Black School of Nursing. It features a 300-seat amphitheater, lighted walkways, and foliage indigenous to the area. A meandering creek lined with stones and boulders enhances this tranquil setting. The Dr. Lawrence E. Roël Garden Pavilion, constructed along the creek in a rustic Shaker style, is where students enjoy outdoor classes and where the campus community gathers for picnics, campus events, reunions, etc.

    Upstate Rotary International Peace Park
    Location of the Peace Park
    This beautiful six-acre park is a place to relax, contemplate, watch, wish and pray for peace and understanding. Dedicated in April 2008, the park includes boardwalks, walking paths, a conifer collection, shrub roses and ornamental grasses. A peace pole, inscribed with “May peace prevail on earth” in a variety of languages, was recently added to the park.

    University Readiness Center
    301 North Campus Boulevard, Spartanburg, SC 29303 
    Completed in 2003, this facility is the result of a one-of-a-kind partnership between USC Upstate and the S.C. National Guard. The Guard houses its high-end signal corps unit here while providing the University with additional classrooms, special events locations and support facilities for the Louis P. Howell Athletic Complex.

    Greenville Campus
    225 South Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC, 29607 
    USC Upstate has a Greenville Campus for commuting junior- and senior-level students. USC Upstate is the largest provider of undergraduate academic programs at the University Center of Greenville, generating over 70 percent of the Center’s baccalaureate enrollment. USC Upstate offers undergraduate programs, each taught by highly–qualified and dedicated faculty both during the day and evening in engineering technology management, communications, information management and systems, nursing, business administration, teacher education and interdisciplinary studies. Eight institutions of higher learning have a presence at UCG.

  • Founded: 1967 

    Enrollment: 6,000 students 

    Campus: 330 acres 

    Faculty: 454 total; 235 full-time, 220 part-time 

    Academics: College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science and Technology, George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics, Mary Black College of Nursing, and School of Education, Human Performance and Health 

    Incoming Class: 1,000 Average SAT 3.5 Average GPA 

    Financial Aid: About 75 percent of our student body receives some kind of financial aid 

    Housing: Magnolia House for freshmen Palmetto House and Villas for upperclassmen 

    Student Life: More than 70 organizations offer students an opportunity to get involved


    Athletics: The Spartans compete in the Big South Conference of NCAA Division I. The men field teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field. The women field teams in softball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field and volleyball. 

    Mascot: Sparty 

    Alumni: About 30,000 of which 85 percent remain in the Upstate to build their lives and careers.

    • Academic Affairs • 864-503-5339
    • Academic Support Center • 864-503-5070 
    • Achieve Program • 864-583-3154 
    • Admissions • 864-503-5246 
    • Advancement and USC Upstate Foundation • 864-503-5209 
    • Alcohol and Drug Education • 864-503-5536 
    • Alumni Relations • 864-503-5240 
    • Arts and Sciences, College of • 864-503-5700 
    • Athletics • 864-503-5141 
    • Bookstore • 864-503-5167 
    • Box Office • 864-503-5695 
    • Business Affairs • 864-503-5353 
    • Business and Economics, George Dean Johnson Jr. College of • 864-503-5580 
    • Career Center • 864-503-5392 
    • Carolina Collegiate Federal Credit Union • 864-503-5336 
    • Cashier’s Office • 864-503-5326 
    • Chancellor’s Office • 864-503-5200 
    • Counseling Services • 864-503-5195 
    • Dean of Students • 864-503-5107 
    • Dining Services • 864-503-5900 
    • Disability Services • 864-503-5199 
    • Education, School of • 864-503-5560 
    • Employee Relations and Equal Opportunity • 864-503-5344 
    • Facilities Management • 864-503-5500 
    • Financial Aid • 864-503-5340 
    • Fine Arts and Communication Studies, Department of • 864-503-5603 
    • Graduate Education Programs • 864-503-5573 
    • Greenville Campus • 864-552-4242 
    • Health Services • 864-503-5191 
    • History, Political Science, Philosophy and American Studies, Department of • 864-503-5795 
    • Honors Program • 864-503-5657 
    • Housing and Dining • 864-503-5422 
    • Human Resources • 864-503-5322 
    • Informatics, Department of • 864-503-5432 
    • Information Technology and Services • 864-503-5257 
    • Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning • 864-503-5490 
    • Instructional Technology • 864-503-5470 
    • Interdisciplinary Studies, Center for • 864-503-5703 
    • International Studies, Center for • 864-503-5661 
    • Languages, Literature and Composition, Department of • 864-503-5688 
    • Library • 864-503-5620 
    • Mathematics and Computer Science, Division of • 864-503-5305 
    • Media Services • 864-503-5564 
    • Metropolitan Studies Institute • 864-503-5901 
    • Multicultural Affairs • 864-503-5196 
    • Natural Sciences and Engineering, Division of • 864-503-5725 
    • Non-traditional Student Services • 864-503-5195 
    • Nursing, Mary Black College of • 864-503-5440 
    • Opportunity Network • 864-503-5966 
    • Postal Services • 864-503-5773 
    • Psychology, Department of • 864-503-5706 
    • Purchasing • 864-503-5232 
    • Records, Registration and Veterans Affairs • 864-503-5220 
    • Sociology, Criminal Justice and Women’s Studies, Department of • 864-503-5701
    • Spartan Rec Center • 864-503-5080 
    • Special Events and Facilities Scheduling • 864-503-5989
    • Sponsored Awards & Research Support, Office of • 864-503-5185
    • Student Affairs • 864-503-5107 
    • Student Life • 864-503-5122 
    • Student Success Center • 864-503-5392 
    • Switchboard • 864-503-5000 
    • University Communications • 864-503-5210 
    • University Police • 864-503-5911 
    • Watershed Ecology, Center for • 864-503-5728 
    • Writing Center, The • 864-503-5883

  • Visiting Spartanburg? Below is a helpful list of places to stay in the area. Also, take a look at the Spartanburg Convention & Visitors Bureau’s list of featured accommodations.

    • AC Hotel Spartanburg
      225 W. Main St., 864-585-8900
    • Hampton Inn & Suites 
      801 Spartan Blvd., 864-699-2222
    • Residence Inn by Marriott 
      9027 Fairforest Rd., 864-574-2111
    • Marriott Spartanburg 
      299 North Church St., 864-596-1211
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  • Downtown Area

    • FR8yard
      125 E. Main St.
    • The Silo at RJ Rockers
      226 W. Main St., 864-804-8047
    • The Brickhouse Pizzeria & Grill 
      203 W. St. John St., (864) 585-0555
    • Cribbs Kitchen 
      121 N. Spring St., (864) 585-7397
    • Groucho’s Deli 
      100 E. Main St., (864) 582-2662
    • Lime Leaf 
      101 E. Main St., (864) 542-2171
    • Mezcal Taberna Restaurant
      143 W Main St., (864) 699-9176
    • Miyako Sushi Group 
      116 Magnolia St., (864) 583-5112
    • Sophia’s 
      155 W Main St, (864) 754-4006
    • Willy Taco 
      930 E. Main St., (864) 327-8228
    • The Kennedy
      221 E. Kennedy St., 864-586-5554
    • The Lemongrass Kitchen
      121 Dunbar St., (864) 205-6150
    • Level 10
      225 W. Main St., 864-596-5069
    Boiling Springs Area
    • Applebee’s 
      125 Rainbow Lake Rd., (864) 814-7076
    • Bangkok on 9
      1398 Boiling Springs Rd, (864) 814-0418
    • Capri’s Italian 
      1927 Boiling Springs Rd., (864) 599-6800
    • Don Rey Mexican Restaurant
      3720 Boiling Springs Rd., (864) 814-0222
    • Copper River Grill 
      2104 Highway 9, (864) 814-4701
    • Fatz Café 
      1925 Boiling Springs Rd., (864) 599-7909
    • Firehouse Subs 
      3605 Boiling Springs Rd., (864) 578-9797
    • Manny’s Restaurant
      2520 Boiling Springs Rd, (864) 216-8944
    • Zaxby’s 
      1910 Boiling Springs Rd., (864) 814-7003
    Westgate Mall Area
    • Beacon Drive-In 
      255 John B. White Sr. Blvd., (864) 585-9387
    • Fuddruckers 
      1509 John B. White Sr. Blvd., (864) 576-8329
    • Blue Fin Grill 
      805 Spartan Blvd., (864) 699-8000
    • City Range Steakhouse Grill 
      774 Spartan Blvd., (864) 327-3333
    East Side/HillCrest Area
    • Dray Bar and Grill
      1800 Drayton Rd Suite 301, (864) 310-4177
    • Hickory Tavern 
      143 Fernwood Dr., (864) 591-3290
    • Gerhard’s Cafe 
      1200 E. Main St., (864) 591-1920
    • Panera Bread 
      1935 E. Main St., (864) 573-7000
    University Area
    • Carolina Barbeque 
      7115 Lone Oak Rd., (864) 503-0542
    • Corona Mexican 
      404-D McCravey Dr., (864) 585-9980
    • Wade’s 
      1000 N. Pine St., (864) 582-3800
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  • Spartanburg, SC

    Spartanburg is a major center for higher education, with seven colleges and universities that have a collective enrollment of nearly 15,000 students. The institutions are a major economic driver for the City and larger region, and a number of partnerships between the schools and businesses are creating significant strategic advantages in workforce training, research, and economic development. 

    Literally hundreds of seminars, classes, workshops, sports events, and arts and cultural offerings are open to the public on these campuses, adding immeasurably to the quality of life in Spartanburg. 

    Initiated by former Mayor Bill Barnet, the consortium of seven institutions of higher education, known as “The Colleges of Spartanburg,” includes Converse College, Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic, Spartanburg Methodist College, Spartanburg Community College, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of South Carolina Upstate and Wofford College.

    The goals of this not-for-profit consortium are to:

    • Capitalize on the advantages offered by the large number of diverse colleges in order to create educational, social and service opportunities for students.
    • Create economic and brand development opportunities for the city.
    • Create and sustain partnership advantages among the colleges themselves.

    Founded in 2003, the College Town Consortium is a not-for-profit consortium of Spartanburg’s seven public and private accredited colleges and universities. Its mission is to capitalize on the advantages offered by the large number of diverse colleges in order to create educational, social and service opportunities for students; to create economic and brand development opportunities for the City; and to create and sustain partnership advantages among the colleges themselves.

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